Get your dream career with the help of a career consultant

Whether you’re new to the job market, currently employed, or not employed but have work experience, you will need a plan to make a career change. Find out more about the benefits of career consultants.

A career consultant – also known as a career counsellor, career coach, job coach, career adviser or career mentor – is someone who has expertise in counselling and coaching people in career development. They also have knowledge of the job market and understand the needs of employers.

Career consultants use their skills to give advice to people who want to:

• start out in the job market
• upskill in their current career
• get help with difficult career decisions
• explore a new career
• move into a new job or career.

Career consultants ask you questions about your career and discuss your career ideas. You can get help and advice from them about:

• connecting your skills to employer needs
• areas to upskill in
• deciding on a new career path
• adapting after redundancy
• self-employment
• CVs and cover letters
• interview planning and styles
• job search planning
• relationship building
• personal branding
• long-term career planning

Whether you’ve never worked before, you’re leaving secondary school or you’re a recent graduate, a career consultant can help you discover which career would suit you based on your personality and talents.

Career consultants will give you job hunting, CV and interview advice to make sure you highlight your employability and transferable skills clearly and professionally to possible employers.

If you want to upskill in your current job, move upwards in your company or move into a new career a career consultant can help you overcome any barriers you may face in the workforce. They’ll help you create a long-term career plan that connects with your goals.

Whether you’ve been raising children, studying or travelling, it can be hard to get back into the workforce. A career consultant can give you advice on the current job market and how to plan your job search. They can help you overcome any problems and show you how to explain your employment gaps.

The consultant may ask you to use tools like CareerQuest or CV Builder to help them get an idea of your interests and skills and the careers they may be suitable for. They will also discuss what you are unhappy with in your current career and what you would like to change and achieve.

The career consultant will discuss the areas they think you need to upskill in, jobs that could work with your personality, and how to overcome possible employment barriers in the future.

• CareerQuest – take a quiz of your interests and find job ideas
• CV Builder – create your CV online using our easy tool

• Get in touch with us for expert career information and guidance
• Career Development Association of New Zealand (CDANZ) website – find accredited career consultants throughout New Zealand

• How to stick to your goal of getting a new job
• Break the barriers stopping your career goals
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